The AL811 and other tube amps (except 572, which has more tube problems) are 4.5 or higher.

Amplifiers that have high initial component problems, or are sensitive to SWR, have lower ratings.

For other examples, look at antennas. There are a number of antennas that do not work at all like the manufacturer claims, and cannot be made to work as claimed, that get 5 out of 5.

If I come on here and say the assembly lines are different, some fool from FL questions my integrity. I really don't know what to do, because the two people south of me are far more in touch with how things work and what percentage of total production generate some type of service issue.

A person really can't stick to facts here. If they don't say what N4ATS or NN4X want them to say, it means they have no integrity.

I think one of the biggest mistakes people make is forgetting that 50% of 811`s and 572`s coming from China are defective,as Tom keeps saying. So,they blame that on MFJ,as if that`s their fault. Then they mistune their `811 amp and blame that on MFJ. Amps don`t fail from use,they fail from misuse. Actually MFJ uses parts such as bandswitches that have even more headroom than other amps,as they advertise. With all this info about these tubes,you would think more folks would buy the better amps,such as the AL_80B,or AL-82,AL_1500. Instead I keep reading,"Why did my new AL-811H fail?" To answer your question,yes it is worth buying a new AL-80B. My old AL-80A keeps chugging along...

So with another false statement that you claim , "Where" do you see I do or did an MFJ review in the Reviews section of eHam that was negative? The thread heck yes but the reviews?? Are you really that dense that you think the thousands of folks doing the reviews levi off me? I think not...

Hmm , when I entered N4ATS in the review section , I see nothing from N4ATS as I would not buy an MFJ product?

"And from that we must also infer that since N4ATS says Ameritron is unreliable and has poor QC, Ten Tec also is unreliable and has poor QC."

I think you are referring to someone else , I do not own a Ten Tec

"I am sure that he knows however I assure you , most people look at reviews before purchasing something (ham or other). I know I do. Statistics or no-statistics , the reader will flow towards the review with the most positive ratings. Its human nature.

Reviews can drive or crash a product, service or purchase , no doubt...."

"A person really can't stick to facts here. If they don't say what N4ATS or NN4X want them to say, it means they have no integrity."

Tom -

I really need to take issue with that comment.

Quite the contrary, you seem to be on some kind of vendetta against Bill, because, I guess, you don't like that he takes public issue with the quality of MFJ/Ameritron gear that's come across his bench. You continue to infer that Bill has an ulterior motive. I've provided my take on why he felt compelled to start that thread here in message # 580069 on the "MJF Quality Lacks" thread. He DOES have an ulterior motive! He want MFJ, and all its subdivisions, to do better! That doesn't seem unreasonable, does it?

There really is just no excuse at all for connections not being soldered! IIRC, it's been established that Ameritron doesn't test every amp before it ships. If that is in fact true, there's just no excuse for that. None.

You keep citing failure statistics, but continuously downplay the unknown "problem repaired outside of warranty process", guestimating that it's a small number, and provide no method of supporting that, even though you admit that it's the only way to track it (i.e. "tracking what happens out in the field"). Here's a quote from you (message # 626583 on the "MFJ Quality Lacks" thread: "I understand it is a waste of time to say this to a few people, but I think most people understand the only way to track percentage of problems in QC is to monitor repairs or tech calls on the output. It is impossible to do it any other way, because the very nature of a complaint is the thing that has a problem gets all the publicity."

You keep remarking that Bill sees too small a number of Ameritron products needing repair for it to be statistically significant, but, provide no explaination for why the samples he'sseeing are in any way not representative of the level of product quality shipped anywhere else.He's seeing the kinds of problems he is - and that was the reason he started the "MFJ Quality Lacks" thread.

You also have not answered those who've asked that your relationship to MFJ/Ameritron currently is. I did not ask that, and I'm only minimally curious as to the answer.

Again on the "MFJ Quality Lacks" thread (comment # 626315) you say this: "Recently someone bought parts, including a complete chassis, and tried to build an amplifier. When it didn't work he went to a dealer and bought a manufactured amplifier. He removed the back panel of the factory unit, installed it on his homemade unit, and sent his homemade unit (which then looked identical on the outside) back to the dealer for a refund."The first thing I thought when I read that was "How scummy!"...but to be totally honest, the SECOND thing I thought was "At least he tested it - that's more than Ameritron does". Or do they now?

We'll know that MFJ has improved when dealers aren't doing the "Shake Test" of their products.

We'll know that Ameritron, specifically, has improved when people refer to issues like no/bad solder connectionsin the past tense.

OK, time to get working on other things. It's been a pleasure, as always!

You should just drive over and beat Martin up directly, or drive over here and beat me up in person. Then you will be a happy man. Your mission in life as a savior for all bad things in QC will be complete.

At least some people on here, apparently the majority, have some common sense.

What I don't understand is why any time an amplifier thread or question pops up, you and your buddy down there have to turn it into a "MFJ sucks" thread. By now, everyone knows that is your position in life.

Yup , I agree , One puts forth that eHam reviews are insignificant and most hams a stupid yet posts the few good reviews , the other looks at the big picture like the "other" eham reviews and most people are smart.....

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